Subject description for 2020/2021

Scientific Methods (BI224F)

Scientific Methods

BI224F

Course description

The course provides a basic grounding in scientific methods in the science of biology ranging from hypothesis forming, data collection and statistical data analyses to presenting scientific results.

Costs

No costs except semester registration fee and syllabus literature.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course:

Knowledge

The candidate should:

  • Have basic knowledge of key theory and methods for scientific investigation
  • Have knowledge of basic data analysis
  • Understand the ethical challenges involved in scientific investigations

Skills

The candidate should:

  • Be able to locate, assess and refer to scientific information from a specter of sources and make reasoned choices
  • Be able to reflect on their academic performance and adjust this under supervision

General competence The candidate should:

  • Show understanding of key areas of scientific research
  • Be able to convey biological knowledge as theories, research questions, research results both orally and in writing

Prerequisites

Admission to the course follows the admission requirement in the bachelor program in biology.

Mode of delivery

Face-to-face teaching.

Teaching activities and methods

Lectures, seminars, tutored student projects, laboratory work, fieldwork.

The course is constructed along several different student projects, in which all steps of scientific methods are carried out by the students based on their own data. Data labs are provided to teach the basic statistical analyses with the software R.

Recommended prior knowledge

MA116F Mathematics and statistics for biologists or similar.

Course evaluation

The study programme is evaluated annually by students by way of course evaluation studies (mid-term evaluation and final evaluation). These evaluations are included in the universitys quality assurance system.

Assessment and examinations

Compound evaluation, grading scale A-E, Beste A, Ikke bestått F
  • Portfolio assessment, comprises 40/100 of the grade, grading scale A-E, Beste A, Ikke bestått F.
  • Written Examination, 4 hours, comprises 60/100 of the grade, grading scale A-E, Beste A, Ikke bestått F.

Overlapping courses

BI135Fv1 Biostatistics - 5 study points.

Course literature

The reading list can be found in Leganto
Course coordinator
ECTS Credits 10 Course location Bodø Faculty
Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture